Compaity



J. H. BOYE.

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16. 1918.

Patented July 8, 1919.

171126112521" Tamas ji 303 THE COLUMBIA PLANOQRAPH co., WASHINOTON. D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. BOYE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES H. BOYEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

Application filed December 16, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. Form, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in curtain fixtures, and hasreference in the main to that type .of curtain fixture wherein the rodsupporting the curtain is hinged vertically at one end so as to becapable of swinging outwardly with the curtain away from the plane ofthe window. Curtain fixtures of this type are quite extensively used onwhat are known as French or casement windows, and when applied to suchwindows the curtain rod is commonly made in two independently hingedsections meeting at a point midway of the width of the window.

Among the objects sought by the present invention are, first, to providean improved hinge construction which will enable the outer vertical edgeof the curtain, when the latter is swung outwardly, to follow aroundbehind the upper hinge member without folding, wrinkling or creasing;and, second, to provide an improved construction which may be mountedeither on the outer face of the window frame or casing, or on the inneredge Iof the latter, or, in the case of a hinged, outwardly swingingsash, may be mounted upon the vertical side bar or stile of the latter.

Other objects of the invention, which are not limited to a pivotedfixture, are to provide an improved holder for a curtain rod that shallsupport the same detachably at one or more points between its ends, andto provide an improved hanger or support for a side drape.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description, whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I haveillustrated a practical and preferred embodiment of the several featuresof the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of awindow, showing a curtain fixture embodying the present inventionapplied thereto, the left hand member of the fixture being shown inclosed position, and the right hand member Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 266,939.

being shown in fully opened or outwardly swung position;

F 1g. 2 1s an enlarged detailed view in section on the line 22 of Fig.1, showing the automatic supporting and locking device associated withthe lower hinge of the curtainrod support;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation, broken out, of the right handmember of the fixture;

Fig. e is atop plan view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the curtain-rod supportingclip;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged longitudinal sections taken on the lines 77and 8-8 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates as an entirety a window of theordinary vertically movable sash type to which my improved fiXture maybe applied. To each of the vertical side frame members of the window aresecured a pair of brackets 11 and 12, the upper bracket 11 having theinwardly curved form shown in Fig. 1 terminating at its free end in abearing member 11, and the lower bracket 12 having a horizontaloutwardly extending portion 12 formed with a bearing aperture 13 (Fig.2) and with radially extending grooves 1 1 and 15 disposed at rightangles to each other and both intersecting the hole 13. Mounted in thebearings 11 and 13 of these brackets is the vertical member or shank 16of the curtainrod support, this latter having at its upper end anintegral horizontally extending arm 17 terminating in a flattened endportion 17 (Fig. 41-). Secured to the latter, as by rivets K 18, is aclip by which the curtain rod proper is removably supported at adistance inwardly of its outer end. This clip, which is best shown inFigs. 5 and 6, comprises a plate 19 having on its lower edge at each.end thereof a forwardly projecting upwardly curved lug or lip 20, andcentrally of its upper edge a forwardly projecting down wardly curvedelastic lug or lip 21, this latter, as herein shown, being formed on theupper end of a separate steel strip 22 that is secured at its lower endto the plate 19 by a rivet 23. The lugs 20 form seating lugs for thelower edge of a fiat curtain rod 24, and the upper lug 21 is a snap lugthat springs over the upper edge of the curtain rod 24 and securelyholds the latter engaged with the seating lugs 20. It will be observedthat this curtain rod holding and supporting device is capable ofengaging with and supporting a certain rod at any suitable or desiredpoint lengthwise of the latter. While I have herein shown this rodsupporting clip as mounted upon the inner end of a swinging rod support,it will be manifest that, so far as the .functions and advantages ofthis clip are concerned, it might be directly mounted on the windowframe itself so as to support an ordinary stationary curtain rod at oneor more points intermediate its ends.

The pivoted rectangular rod supporting member 16, 17 is itself supportedvertically at the proper height by means of a horizon tal pin 2% (Fig.2) passed through the vertical member 16 and, in the closed and fullyopened position of the curtain, resting in the cross groove 15 of thebracket 12. In the half opened position of the curtain, wherein thelatter lies at a right angle to the window, the pin 24 lies in the othercross groove 1% of the bracket 12. In both positions the curtain islocked by the engagement of the pin with the cross groove. To shift theposition of the curtain it is necessary only to raise the member 16sufficiently to lift the pin 24: out of the groove that it is occupying,and then swing the curtain and its support to the desired position, andlet it drop. To facilitate this operation the lower end of the member 16is provided with a short laterally extending handle 16. The curtain rodproper, as herein shown, is of the fiat type, and may be either a singlerod or a sectional telescoping rod adjustable as to length. As shown inFigs. 4 and 8, the outer end of the rod is curved rearwardly or towardthe window frame, as shown at 24, so as to enable the outer end of thecurtain to have a rounded effect; and on the extreme end of the rod is abackwardly turned aper tured lug 25, to which may be detachably fastenedone end of a side drape supporting rod 26, herein shown as consisting ofa section of closely coiled elastic wire which, of

course, is flexible, and the outer end of which, as best shown in Fig.7, terminates in a hook 27 adapted to engage with one of a plurality ofeyes 28 formed in the outer wall of the curtain rod 24:. To preventdanger of displacement of the curved outer end of the side drape rod 26which bears against the curved outer end of the main rod end 24:, thelatter is formed, as shown in Fig. 9, with a pair of spacedprotuberances or lugs '29 between which the curved portion of theelastic rod 26 lies.

In the use of my improved curtain fixture, the curtain rod 24 is passedthrough the usual hem or pocket at the upper edge of the curtain, and ifa side drape is to be used the side drape rod 26 is similarly engagedwith the upper edge of the side drape and is then attached to the mainrod in the manner already described. The rod 2 1 is then engaged withthe rod supporting clamp by seating the lower edge of the rod in thelugs 20 and then pressing its upper edge against the lug 21 until thelatter snaps thereover. The curtain rod is thus mounted in a positionsuch that its curved outer end occupies substantially the positionrelatively to the upper hinge member 11 shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. WVhenthe curtain is opened, which is accomplished by simply raising the rodsup porting member 16, 17 and swinging the same outwardly, say to theposition shown in Fig. 1, the extreme outer edges of the curtain andside drape are carried around within the curved bracket 11 withoutproducing any folding, wrinkling, or creasing at the outer vertical edgeof the curtain and without catching the outer end of the curtain betweenthe rod and the hinge member.

\Vhile I have shown a form of the invention in which a pair ofoppositely disposed curtain supporting devices are mounted one on eachside of the window and each sup porting a half curtain, it is manifestthat a single supporting device may be used to carry a curtain rod andcurtain of the full width of the window. It will also be readilyapparent that the device shown and described may be mounted not only onthe outer face of the window frame, but on its inner edge, or on thestile of the window sash where a vertically hinged sash is used. Hencethe invention is not to be understood as in anywise limited to itsparticular loca tion or mounting on the window frame or sash.

The mounting of a curtain rod on a vertical hinge of substantial lengthas herein shown, has two important advantages, among others that mightbe mentioned. In the first place, the inner or free end of the rod doesnot droop or sag; and in the second place, the relatively long verticalhingepintle 16 enables the device, even when mounted on high windows, tobe readily manipulated by persons standing on the floor. The hingebracket 12 with its cross grooves, in cooperation with the pin 24 passedthrough the hinge-pintle 16, constitutes a very simple and easilymanipulated combined support and lock for the curtain rod supportingmember, the locking action being automatic by gravity when the device isswung to closed or opened position.

The provision of a clip or bracket which engages the curtain rod at apoint intermediate its ends, I regard as a feature of importance, sinceit does away with the necessity of end-supporting brackets, andfurthermore, prevents the unsightly sagging of the upper edge of thecurtain at or near its center, noticeable in long rods supported only attheir ends. The lugs or lips 20 and 21 which grip the edges of the rodare spaced suificiently far apart to prevent any teetering of the rodwhen one side or the other of the curtain may be drawn down. Ashereinabove pointed out, the advantage of a rod support or clamp of thischaracter are obviously not limited to its use on a curtain fixture ofthe swinging type herein shown, but exist equally in a constructionwherein the clip or holder of the curtain rod may be directly secured tothe window frame or sash.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the detail featuresof the device herein shown and described may be considerably modifiedwithout involving any departure from the principle of the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof. Hence I do not limit theinvention to the particular construction herein presented for purposesof illustration, except to the extent clearly indicated in specificclaims.

I claim 1. In a curtain fixture, the combination of bearing membersadapted to be secured in vertically spaced relation to a side member ofa window, a curtain-rod supporting member journaled in said bearingmembers and having at its upper end a horizontal arm, a clip secured tosaid arm, and a curtain-rod detachably held by said clip.

2. In a curtain fixture, the combination of upper and lower bearingmembers adapted to be secured to a side member of a window, said upperbearing member having an inwardly curved stem or shank, a curtain-rodsupporting member journaled in said bear ing members and having at itsupper end a horizontal arm, a clip secured to the free end of said arm,and a curtain-rod detachably held by said clip.

3. In a curtain fixture, the combination of upper and lower bearingmembers adapted to be secured to a side member of a window, said upperbearing member having an inwardly curved stem or shank, a curtain-rodsupporting member journaled in said bearing members and having at itsupper end a horizontal arm, a clip secured to the free end of said arm,and a curtain rod detachably held intermediate its ends by said clip,the outer end of said rod being curved in toward the window in adirection opposed to the direction of curvature of said upper bearingmember.

4:. In a curtain fixture, the combination with a curtain rod formed withapertures in its front side, of an extensible side-drape rod formed withend hooks engaged with said apertures.

5. In a curtain fixture, the combination with a curtain-rod having arounded rearwardly extended end portion and formed with end andintermediate apertures in its front side, of a flexible side-drape rodoverlying said rounded end portion and formed with end hooks engagedwith said apertures.

6. In a curtain fixture, the combination with a curtain rod having arounded rearwardly extended end portion formed with vertically spacedprotuberances on its front side, and also formed with end andintermediate apertures, of a flexible side-drape rod overlying saidrounded end portion between said protuberances and formed with end hooksengaged with said apertures.

7. In a curtain fixture, a curtain-rod holder adapted to support the rodbetween the ends of the latter and consisting of a strip having on itsupper and lower margins forwardly projecting lugs between which thecurtain-rod is held at its upper and lower edges.

8. In a curtain fixture, a curtain-rod holder adapted to support the rodbetween the ends of the latter and consisting of a strip having on itsupper and lower margins forwardly and downwardly and forwardly andupwardly projecting lugs respectively, one of said lugs being elasticwhereby said rod can be forced into and out of engagement with saidholder by lateral pressure.

9. In a curtain fixture, a curtain-rod holder adapted to support the rodbetween the ends of the latter and consisting of a strip having at theends of its lower longitudinal edge a pair of forwardly and upwardlyproj ecting lugs and centrally of its upper longitudinal edge aforwardly and downwardly projecting spring lug, between which lower andupper lugs said rod is detachabl held.

JAMES H. B YE.

Games of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

